Gravity ...Childbirth!

Now I have been thinking about Childbirth. Last time as soon as I had my EPI I was flat on my back on a bed and that was it of course!

My girlfriend in Auckland swears by standing up and leaning over the bed. She has had 3 girls in the last 7 years..All with No painkillers and leaning over the bed standing up! She swears that Gravity is a very important thing!

Has anybody stood up here giving birth and do you think it really helps?

I would really like to not be stuck to the bed this time! (maybe go for a jog up to the dairy and get some lollies HA HA Not)

I was squatting with Kiya, and kneeling with Josiah (in a spabath both times) and gravity did help!

I was pretty much strapped to the bed (hooked up to what felt like a million monitors!!) when I had the boys and it just didnt feel right. All I wanted to do was get into a position where gravity did help. If theres a next time and theres no probs I will definatley be letting gravity do some of the work lol

I dont think I could squat..I would fall over...


Now when you say Kneeling do you mean on all fours up on the bed or on the floor..Sorry for my ignorance!

with Jayde I Knelt on the bed with my arms over the headboard (so facing backwards). It felt like the most comfortable position.

With Lissy I gave birth on my back but tried every position under the sun (that was just the way i happened to be when she came out)

for both i was half sitting upright half lying, stayed mainly sitting, kneeling or squatting for most of labour, however when it came to pushing was up on bed, head of bed nearly fully upright, with someone holding my legs either side.. tried stirrups, no way ick, .. if you can't go for the totally upright position then i totally recommend this.. having your feet rested up on someones hip on each side really takes the force out of having to hold yourself up - so instead of pushing into your legs you can really feel where to push instead.

but gravity definately helps

I was kneeling on one knee, and one foot. If anyone knows Queen Mary hospital in Dunedin, I had room 7 with the big double bed, and it was just the right height to lean on. Definately think it helped. While at home in labour, the most comfortable position was kneeling on the floor, leaning on the bed or couch.

I was standing at the foot end of the bed with my head in a pillow/beanbag and that was pretty much how I stayed for the whole labour and Birth.
I tryed every other way but I couldnt have anything touching my back and it really really hurt being on my knees and I couldnt sit!

I recomend standing!

I had an epi so was on my back for most of labour, but for delivery I had the back of the bed propped so I was almost sitting, and had my knees drwan up to my chin. Can't remember if the midwife told me to do that or if I just naturally ended up that way.

Have noooooo idea how the twins are ocming out...

Angelnz wrote: with Jayde I Knelt on the bed with my arms over the headboard (so facing backwards). It felt like the most comfortable position.

This is what I did too.. my midwife encouraged me into this position.. I took a while to push her out as I was worried about tearing, I didn't tear but did get a graze.. but that didn't have anything to do with the position I was in. I think it helped, I was sucking on the gas in between pushes lol